He just got a job down in the Fairfield County/New York area with a company that works at risk kids that help to train service dogs that are donated to wounded soldiers.

He transferred to another community college down that way to finish off this year of college. He still wants to transfer to a college with a ROTC program so he can go into the Army, but for now, he is going to work with kids that were like him and lead by example.

"Lead by Example." Those were his words, not mine.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men ~ General George S. Patton, Jr.

She taking all the stars down from her sky to hang them up someplace new, where there's better weather and the sky's a different blue. ~ Autumn Fields

I have no idea what made me read this thread. I normally would have looked at it and the original date and passed right over it.

But, wow Noel, what a wonderful update. It brought tears to my eyes. It is so wonderful that he has done so well, and is interested in helping others do the same. You ladies who were involved are awesome. You just never know whose life you will touch.

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but what did you ultimately do for him as a thank you? There were some great ideas floating around out there, so I'm just curious. =)

Two new backboards went up at the basketball court where they play. Somebody somewhere pulled some strings with the City and got the basketball court repaved with new lines painted. Between me, John, my client and other Police officers, about 14 new basketballs were handed out to the kids including.

Several new benches have been put in that area since then, I know two were made by a few of Jamal's friends who go to the Technical school. Now that the area has been fixed up, the kids have been doing a good job of keeping it nice.

I did some embroidery for him. He wanted some graffiti looking graphics embroidered on a jacket, so I bought him a jacket like the one he usually wore, took it apart and embroidered all the graphics onto it for him. (I checked with his PO to make sure none of it was gang stuff)

When Joyce sent the camera, I added in a 36 pack of batteries, a 512mb SD card and "cool" carry case.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men ~ General George S. Patton, Jr.

She taking all the stars down from her sky to hang them up someplace new, where there's better weather and the sky's a different blue. ~ Autumn Fields

Whata neat story! Did you and Joyce know you were helping the same boy or was that coincidence? My neighbor is sort of trying to help a girl who could go either way at this point and has NO partental support (they are jerkos) - I keep telling her she is doing a good thing and that kids often do remember the good deeds done for them. I just wish more stories had such happy and positive endings as this one!!

HappyPuppy wrote:Whata neat story! Did you and Joyce know you were helping the same boy or was that coincidence? My neighbor is sort of trying to help a girl who could go either way at this point and has NO partental support (they are jerkos) - I keep telling her she is doing a good thing and that kids often do remember the good deeds done for them. I just wish more stories had such happy and positive endings as this one!!

Yes. When Joyce posted she was giving away her camera, I asked her if I could have it for Jamal.

Moral courage is the most valuable and usually the most absent characteristic in men ~ General George S. Patton, Jr.

She taking all the stars down from her sky to hang them up someplace new, where there's better weather and the sky's a different blue. ~ Autumn Fields